Pastor's Corner - Nov 2018

The saying “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime” is an old proverb that has been around a long, long time. The concept behind it is, of course, that you can’t end poverty by giving or loaning someone money. You end poverty by teaching a man or woman a trade, or by helping him/her get a job so that he/she may earn an honest livelihood and not be forced to hold out a hand for charity. This is a wise and a valid theory, but reality sometimes demands that we give a hand up as well. Things happen that are out of our control, and in an instant, circumstances can change. Even folks who have jobs find themselves in need of help sometimes. Think of everyone who lost homes from Hurricanes Florence and Michael.

There are times when we can give from our “extra fish” and ease the burden for folks who are in need. As we approach Advent, we recognize that, along with the joyous anticipation of the birth of the Christ child, comes the pressures of the season for families who can’t provide the kind of Christmas everyone deserves.Because of this reality, and God’s call to minister to those in need, we here at FVPC strive each year to help alleviate some of hardship of those members of our community who feel the crushing pressure to provide for their families, or who struggle to pay for basics needs like lights, heat and groceries.We are currently taking monetary donations for our “White Christmas” program. The amount collected will determine how many folks we will be able to help in this holy season of Advent. The deadline for giving is November 25th. If you write a check, we ask that you designate the money to White Christmas in the memo line. If it is a cash donation, please indicate the designation by placing it in an envelope and write that the money is for White Christmas on the envelope. We are aware that this is the time of year when there are many things competing for your monetary resources, so we are asking that you give cheerfully and from your “extra fish.” There are a lot of great Fishermen at FVPC.